Means for supporting bed-coverings.



J. A. BRENT. MEANS FOR SUPPORTING BED COVERINGS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 3, I9I3.

Patented Dec. 5, 1916.

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J. A. BRENT.

MEANS FOR SUPPORTING BED COVERINGS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 3. I913.

Patented Dec. 5,1916.

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JAMES A. BRENT, OF NEVT YORK, N. "55., ASSTIG-NGR Ti) THE BRENT COMPANY, II TO., A CORPORATION OF NEVJ SZ'QR-IZ.

MEANS BOB SUPPOBTIA G BED-COVERINGE.

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Application filed May 3, 1913.

To auto/20 m 2'2, may concern Be it known that T, James A. BRENT, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York city, in the coun of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Means for Supporting Bed-Coverings; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The present invention relates to improvements in means for supporting bed coverings and the like whereby the sleeper or patient occupying the bed may be relieved of the weight of the coverings while permitting the edges of the coverings to be tucked in so as to exclude cold.

The principal object of the invention is to (provide a device which may be quickly an firmly attached to the clothing with out piercing, creasing, tearing or otherwise injuring the samewhich will accommodate itself to any reasonable thickness or number of coverings-which shall be capable of easy adjustment to the requirements of any user and employed easily upon any bedwhich shall not involve bringing any part of the device in contact with the userwhich shall be rather ornamental in use than otherwise-and which may be easily transported and applied so as to fit it for the use of travelers.

The improvement is illustrated in certain preferred forms in the accompanying drawings wherein Figure l-is a perspective view showing the mode of use of the clasp, Fig. 2 is a sectional view of one form of clasp whose use involves pressure from within by employing an expansible core, Fi 8 is an end view of the same, Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are respectively a section, a bottom plan and a side view of a modified form of eXpansiblecore, Fig. 7 is a sectional view of a modified form of eXpansible-core clasp having a resilient upper member, Fig. 8 is an end view of a modified form of upper member, Fig. 9 is a side view of the same, and Fig. 10 is an end view of still another modified form of upper member.

The preferred suspension involves a main cord 10 stretched from the head board to the foot board of the bed (see'Fig. 1) to Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 5, 1916.

Serial No. 765,182.

which are attached branch cords 11, having the clasps 12 at their lower ends. These branch cords are secured to the main cord 10 by any means permitting firm adjustment at various points along the main cord. For instance I may use thumb-screw sockets 13 for this purpose.

The best mode of use is shown in Fig. 1, wherein three clasps 12 are employed. The branches 11 attached to the clasps nearest the head and foot respectively are drawn along the cord so as to incline in a direction whereby the fabric between these end clasps is drawn taut, as indicated. This creates a space permittin free movement of the sleeper or patient within it. The middle clasp aids in producing the desired edect without undue strain. By taking up more or less cord on the branches 11, the height of the coverings may be regulated. This mode of suspension lends itself to use with various forms of clasp, and particu larly to one which T have devised, wherein there is an upper member, designed .to be pressed onto the upper surface of the bed coverings and a lower member or core which is applied to the lower surface of the coverings, and which is expanded within the upper member.

In the term shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the core comprises two relatively movable parts 19 and 20, one telescoped within the other, or otherwise arranged to permit relative longitudinal movement. A. cam 21 is pivoted to one of these parts, as 20, and is provided with a handle 22. The core is made preferably to comprise resilient means, so as to accommodate itself to various thicknesses of coverings, but this is not essential to my broader claims. In the preferred form, this is accomplished by using an abutment 23 against which the cam 21 bears, between which and the part 19 of the core there is inserted a spring 24:. With the handle 22 in the position shown in full lines in Fig. 2, the core is expanded within the coverings and frame 16. The pressure is released to withdraw the core by turning the handle 22 into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2.

Tn the modification of this form of my invention which is shown in Figs. 4 to 6, the spreading apart of the ends of the core is produced by hinging the two parts of the core together, as shown, and the preferred resilient effect is had by fixing suitable curved leaf springs 25 to the ends of the core. The core is inserted while in the bent position shown in Fig. 6 and is pushed up under the coverings so as to straighten it, and push the coverings outward, compressing the springs 25, and squeezing the coverings against the ends of the upper member 01' frame. The position of the core when fully expanded or straightened is shown in Figs. 4. and 5.

In order to prevent the tension on the coverings from bending the core and causing it to drop out of the holding position, means are preferably supplied for locking the parts in the position shown in Figs. 6 and 7. Such means may, of course, be given any one of a great variety of forms. I have shown one form .of such means in the drawings. It takes the form of a plate 26, suitably pivoted under one of the core parts, and provided with a projection 27 to facilitate turning the same on its pivot. lVhen turned in the position indicated in Fig. 6, this plate does not interfere with free relative movement of the.

two parts of the core, but, when the core is straightened, the plate is turned so as to overlap the joint between the core parts, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, and, in this position the. plate locks the parts and prevents their being bent. It is'not necessary that the provision for resilient. effort be made if; at all by This mode of.

placing springs on the core. accommodating the device to use with various thicknesses of coverings may be carried out as well by applying springs 28 to the ends of the member 16, as shown in Fig. 7.

In the form of my clasp shown in Figs. 8 and 9, a short core 29 of the simplest character is employed with an upper member made in the form of twocurved parts 30-and 31, preferably" having the shape illustrated, which parts are. supplied With suspension stems-32, 33 pivotally joined at 34C, and one of which can be connected to a proper suspending device, as, for instance, the main cord 10, asshown. The stems 32, 33 (or one oft-hem) are tapering, as shown, and a fastening ring 35 is slipped over them, in such a manner that, when the ring is'pushed dowm ard on these stems they are drawn together, and the parts 30 and 31 are thus caused'tightly to grip the core 29 through the coverings 15.

Where the upper member of the clasp is made in two movable parts, various expedients may be resorted to for maintaining the grip thereof upon the coverings and core below it. For instance the upper member may comprise two members 36, 37, hinged.

together as shown in Fig. 10. One ofthese portions, as 37 has an upward extension 38 for purposes of suspension, while the other portion has a compression arm 39'through which passes a set screw 40, whose end may be screwed down upon the portion 37 to maintain the grip when the upper member has been closed over the coverings.

While .I have not herein specifically claimed the forms of my device wherein either theinner core or'the upper member is divided or hinged, these features are not abandoned but will form the subject matter of a divisional application.

It is clear that my invention may take a variety of formswith'out departing from the scope thereof, and I do not. limit myself to.

the details herein shown and described.

1. In a means for clasping bed coverings, an upper member having spring endsv and a core having mutually movable parts adapted to be pressed apart between said ends from beneath, said coverings, substantially as described.

2. In a means for clasping bed coverings, an upper member and a two part core adapt.- ed to have its ends spread apart to fit into and be clasped, by said upper member, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES A. BREED.-

Witnesses:

H. S. MAOKAYE, KATHARINE C. MEAD.

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

